The question set seems to be a simple two relevant question CQT. 

I can tell you exactly where I would have put my size 13 if it had been me.

He changed the order and went through them several times but the questions were the same through each revolution

1. Is the month October - YES
2. Were you truthful on your application - YES
3. Had you ever engaged in a coverup of a serious crime - NO
4. Is the year 2013 - YES
5. Would anyone we interview say you were difficult to get along with - NO

He started with the cuff on my arm which began turning blue but I made sure I did not move

He then said he was moving the cuff and placed it around my upper thigh it was placed to where the cuff was under my knee cap I tried not to move but my leg began spasming  he said to ignore it and we continued

After that evolution he became very agitated and yelled "I saw you looking at your foot the whole time STOP IT LOOK AT THE WALL" My foot was up in the chair and is a size 13 so i cant see how he could differentiate what I was look at.  All I was able to think about was how much my knee hurt

He then moved the cuff back to my arm

I thought it ended on a good note he told me to step out and he would be back with me in a few.


In the prepolygraph stage he asked me questions about my application I guessed at a number and after the polygraph was when it became apparent this was not about the Polygraph but more about the fact I cited a different number in regards to what I had written in the months prior on my SF86.  A number I had not even looked at in 4 years.   

I also previously held an TS/SCI/PS clearance

Anony Mouse,
It would be helpful if you could remember the exact wording and order of all the questions.

Well the agency was actually not the NSA but another agency. I found out from my security coordinator that no one has ever been continued on after failing...  I wish I would have found your website before :/  I was asked 

1. What month it was 2. What year it was. 3. Was I truthful on my application 4. Had I ever engaged in a coverup of a serious crime 5. Had I ever engaged in drug use.

They did give me my result after he told me to leave the room while he reviewed it.  The thing that made me realize it was all a joke it when he started asking me about an item i listed on my financial disclosure ( I did not quote the dollar figure the same as what I had written months prior).  Something that was public record I should have told them I needed to review my notes!

It was an woful experience

Basically I was told I'm SOL

I'm not familiar with any polygraph technique that would have only a total of six questions in a series. If the agency you were polygraphed by was indeed the NSA, then you probably got a relevant/irrelevant screening test. This technique is described in Chapter 12 of the Federal Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Handbook, which you can download here:

https://antipolygraph.org/documents/federal-polygraph-handbook-02-10-2006.pdf

Chapter 12 begins at p. 56 of the PDF file. Compare the questions you were asked with those listed there.

For critical commentary on the relevant/irrelevant "test" (a thoroughly discredited technique that has absolutely no scientific basis), see pp. 117-120 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector:

https://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf

It's not uncommon for the blood pressure cuff to be inflated so tight as to be very uncomfortable.

And it's common for polygraphers to ask questions other than those that are asked during the "in-test" portion (when you're hooked up to the polygraph instrument). The whole point of the polygraph interrogation is to elicit information.

Finally, if the agency involved was the NSA, you may have been shown a short pro-polygraph propaganda video titled "The Truth About the Polygraph" in advance of it. I've produced a video critique of that video that you may find worthwhile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93_FDeMENN4

I typed my initial pot on my iPhone so I apologize if you did not find it readable. 

During the pre polygraph session all he had attached to me was the metal plate like finger sensors (he called them sweat sensors)

I used the term covert as (HE TOLD ME I WAS NOT BEING TESTED AT THAT POINT)

My main questions were:

1. Do they only ask 2 sample and 4 questions total during the complete polygraph?  7 hours and he asked me 6 total questions and says I failed on 1 it just doesn't seem logical.

2. Are the cuffs usually placed on so tight that your appendages turn blue?

3. Why would he question me about something he didn't even ask me about on the polygraph? If its a question worth probing wouldn't they polygraph on it?

Anony mouse,

You didn't post to the wrong forum. This one is for both polygraph and CVSA experiences. With respect to your questions:

1. I'm not sure what you're asking here. In fact, grammatical mistakes throughout your post make several passages unclear to me. Who is "they?" I surmised you might be talking about the NSA, but I'm not certain.

2. I don't understand what you mean by a "covert" polygraph. Any time there are sensors attached to your body, the polygraph instrument may be recording your physiological responses. The polygrapher might compare your breathing rate before the "in-test" portion of the polygraph rate with your breathing rate during and after it in an effort to identify potential countermeasures.

3. Yes, others have experienced having the blood pressure cuff moved from an arm to a leg. This is sometimes done when the cuff causes undue discomfort when attached to the arm.

4. The polygraph is all about interrogation and getting the examinee to volunteer information that would be difficult or impossible to discover through a background investigation.

sorry i posted in the wrong section I just figured out what a CVSA is

I recently failed my polygraph I was surprised at how few questions I was asked and how it went.

To start out I showed up at 30 minutes prior and all seemed to go well he spent 4 hours with me discussing the machine.  He told me he was fitting me for the test but it wasn't starting.  He fitted me removed everything but the finger sensors on.  He told me to sit in one of the chairs.  And he explained to me how the test would go he said "I'll review the categories nsa discuss what might be included in it". He then said I need to reply yes or no just like when I'm tested so were practiced". I realized he kept looking at the screen so I'm assuming he was doing some sort of secret /covert polygraph.  After 5 hours the legitimate polygraph began the cuff was so tight my arm started turning blue.  He asked 2 junk questions then 4 legitimate ie was I a criminal, had a lied on my application.

     The he appears he's having issues with my cuff and says I'm gonna move that it goes to my leg which he places in the chair.   We begin again and he accuses me of looking at my foot.  Well my foot is right in front of me.  He then moved it back to my arm then back to my leg.

      I thought all went well but when I came back he asked me about my financial disclosure and he asked a number of something I gave an approximate off the cuff since I didn't have my records in front of me.  He then said I failed on the application question and asked if I knew why...  I said well I was honest and the financial questions was off the cuff I'd need my records for an accurate number.

Obviously I should have said let me look that up.  But the bigger picture I have questions on:

1. Do they only ask for questions
2. Do they perform a covert polygraph before
3. Has anyone else experienced them moving the cuff from your arm to your leg?
4. What does my oral statements to questions not asked on the polygraph have to do with the polygraph I thought that would be up to the background investigator?

I'd appreciate any feedback